Cabral is Africa’s Che Guevara. He was a great fighter in the post-colonial liberation struggle not only in his home country Guinea-Bissau but for Africa in general.

With the expertise and financial support of UNESCO Dakar, the house of Amilcar Cabral in Guinea Bissau has now been restored.

“The aim is to turn it into a museum to preserve the memory of this important freedom fighter,” says Christian Ndombi, Chief of the Culture Sector at UNESCO Dakar.

Campaign to collect objects

He adds that UNESCO will soon launch a campaign to collect objects, pictures, testimonials and other materials which will constitute the collection of the museum. It is also planned to have exhibitions.

On the occasion of commemorating the 39 anniversary of Amical Cabral’s death, on 20 January 2012, a plaque of appreciation to UNESCO will be placed on the front of the house.

“This is a great achivement,” says Ndombi, “due to the impotant role of Cabral in the African revolution”.

Fighting for independence

Amical Cabral’s house was until recently a ramshackle cottage without doors or windows. It is situated in Batafa, a town some 100 kilometers from the capital of Guinea-Bissau.

He grew up in the house before he went to Lisbon to study agriculture. When he returned to the African continent he was instrumental in promoting the independence causes of the then Portuguese colonies, Portuguese Guinea and Cape Verde.

From 1963 to his assassination in 1973, Cabral led the PAIGC's guerilla movement against the Portuguese colonialists.